CJ Solar is the Perfect Combination of Southern Grit and Authentic Country

Baton Rouge native and 23-year-old artist CJ Solar just releasedhis brand new EP, Hard One to Turn Down, and we decided to give it a listen. A combination of country, southern rock and Delta blues influences, this EP features five catchy tracks, all co-written by Solar.

There is a gritty authenticity to CJ’s voice and while he’s totally country (without trying too hard to be, if ya know what we mean), his sound is also incredibly unique. The standout track on this collection is undeniably “Tall Boy,” his current single. The upbeat song is about the power of a cold beer and it’s ability to provide some comfort during times of heartbreak.

Country star Jerrod Niemann appears on the EP on “Just Another Day in the Country,” which features a rockin’ harmonica and Niemann and Solar singing together about rural life. “We do what we do, so if redneck is cool, I guess we’re all James Dean,” sing the two in the chorus.

The title track “Hard One To Turn Down” is a radio-ready jam about things that are hard to turn down: songs that remind him of his lady, beers with the boys and late night invitations from exes.

All in all, the EP definitely deserves a listen. “I wanted it to sound as much like my live show as possible, so I played the bulk of the rhythm parts and all of the guitar solos, just how I play them live,” said Solar in a press release.

The long-haired tunesmith is currently on tour performing at venues all over the U.S. opening up for artists like the Cadillac Three, Old Dominion and the Randy Rogers Band. He frequents Nashville’s Whiskey Jam, where he filmed the music video for “Tall Boy” (watch below).